Schedule LA County Large Trash Pickup for Bulky Items
If you live in unincorporated areas of LA County, the easiest way to get rid of large furniture is to schedule a bulky item pickup. The county provides two free large trash pickups per year for items like couches, mattresses, appliances, and other oversized waste. To schedule your pickup, call 1-888-336-6100 or request it online at lacounty.gov. You’ll get a two-day window for when the truck will come by to haul away your big junk items curbside.
For efficiency, have everything set out on the curb or driveway by 6am on the first day of your pickup schedule. Break down items like shelving so they don’t take up too much space. Tie up loose parts like doors and drawers so they don’t fall off in transit. Remove valuables beforehand for security. And don’t forget – hazardous waste like chemicals, batteries, and electronics can’t go in the bulky item pickup.
If you missed your biannual opportunity, some LA County cities like Long Beach offer their own bulky item trash services for residents. Check with your city’s sanitation department to see if they provide large furniture disposal options before going the DIY dump run route.
Tips for LA County Bulky Item Pickup
- Schedule 2 pickups per year for free removal
- Have items on curb by 6am day-of
- Break down furniture to save space
- No hazardous materials allowed
Use LA City Sanitation Bulky Item Pickup
For those living in the City of Los Angeles, the LA Sanitation department offers free bulky item collection services. You can schedule a pickup online at lacity.org/LASan or by calling 1-800-773-2489. They’ll give you a one-day window when crews will come take away any big furniture pieces, appliances, mattresses, and other large trash.
As with the county pickup, you’ll need to have everything set out on the curb by 6am on your scheduled date. Make sure to break down items into pieces under two feet tall – anything larger may be rejected. Hazardous waste is also prohibited from bulky item pickup in the city. And take care not to block sidewalks, streets, or alleys when putting out your haul.
LA city residents get three free bulky item collections per year. So if you missed the truck this time, you can always call to book another pickup when you’ve got surplus waste again. For faster removal, some neighborhoods have weekly oversized item pickup – check the sanitation website to see if yours is one.
LA City Bulky Pickup Tips
- Get 3 free pickups per year
- Break down oversized items
- Don’t block streets or sidewalks
- No hazardous materials
Hire Harter’s Disposal for Furniture Removal
For faster and more flexible options, consider hiring a junk removal service to pick up your unwanted furniture. Harter’s Disposal is a local LA company that offers same-day haul away of any bulky items like couches, appliances, beds, and dining sets.
Harter’s sends a team to dismantle and load your heavy furniture pieces into their truck for disposal. Unlike government pickups, they’ll take electronics, exercise equipment, and other miscellaneous big trash. They can also do full house or apartment cleanouts if you’re looking to remove a large volume of waste.
Pricing is by item type and truckload space used. For example, a full truck of junk removal might start around $300-400. While not free, hiring Harter’s is often faster and more convenient than waiting for a scheduled municipal pickup. And you don’t have to lug any cumbersome objects to the curb yourself.
Benefits of Harter’s Disposal
- Same-day haul away service
- Removes almost any bulky items
- Full cleanouts available
- Faster than government pickup
Donate to Salvation Army for Free Sofa Pickup
If your furniture is still usable, consider donating it to charity. Organizations like the Salvation Army accept furniture donations and may even pick them up for free. First, search for Salvation Army thrift stores near you and give them a call.
Let them know what types of furniture pieces you’re looking to donate, including dimensions and photos if possible. If the items meet their criteria and they have the capacity to accept them, they can schedule a no-cost pickup at your home. Not only is it free disposal, but you get the reward of giving household necessities to those in need.
Make sure to double check pickup eligibility for your area before assuming they’ll take your stuff away at no charge. Some regions of LA may require you to drop off donations yourself. And very large/heavy items like pianos often incur a pickup fee. But for standard furniture donation, Salvation Army pickup is a handy disposal method.
Tips for Salvation Army Donation
- Provides free furniture pickup
- Confirm eligibility for your area
- Larger items may have fees
- Don’t dump broken furniture
List Furniture Free on Craigslist for Curbside Pickup
Craigslist is a great option if your furniture just needs some TLC. Simply create a free “Curb Alert” posting with photos and a brief description of the items available for pickup. List things individually or as a group “lot” of furniture.
Mention that it’s first come, first served curbside pickup only. Interested parties will contact you, then stop by your address to haul it away. This method saves you the labor of moving items to the curb yourself. Best of all, it costs you absolutely nothing but a quick ad post.
Keep in mind rebuilt or antique furniture may be worth selling for actual money through Craigslist. But for basic IKEA bookshelves or dated dining sets, free curb alert pickup is the way to go. You’d be surprised what folks are willing to take for free!
How to Use Craigslist Curb Alerts
- Post free ad with curbside pickup
- Let interested people know address
- They’ll come remove items for free
- Great for used furniture in decent shape
Junk Shops That Buy Used Furniture in Los Angeles
If you have quality wood furniture in salvageable shape, some LA junk shops will actually pay you for it. Stores like Hansji Vintage and Amphorabuy mid-century, antique, and other well-made vintage finds to resell.
Browse their website or social media pages to get a feel for the styles they purchase. Then reach out with detailed photos and descriptions of your items. Be prepared to transport the furniture yourself to their location for assessment. Payouts vary greatly based on market demand, style, and condition.
While you likely won’t get rich off old furniture, it’s a smart way to clear space and offset moving or disposal costs. Even damaged but repairable pieces can fetch $20-50 in some cases. Just don’t expect to cash in big on mass-produced particleboard sets.
Tips for Selling to Junk Shops
- Focus on antique, retro and quality wood
- Transport items to store for assessment
- Payout depends on style and condition
- Don’t expect much for IKEA-type furniture
Sell to ReStore for Furniture Recycling and Donation
For newer and higher end furniture in great shape, Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore may purchase items to resell. Browse the LA ReStores online to see what kind of styles they accept. Mid-century, industrial, and contemporary pieces are popular.
Schedule an appointment to bring in your items for evaluation. ReStore specialists will assess condition, style, brand, and resale value to make an offer. Payouts can range from a few dollars for simple end tables to hundreds for couches and bedroom sets.
If they can’t buy it, they may accept the furniture as a donation. ReStore keeps reusable household items out of landfills by reselling to support Habitat’s mission. Selling to them keeps quality furniture circulating while funding affordable housing.
Benefits of Selling to ReStore
- Get paid for furniture in good shape
- Schedule in-store evaluation
- Supports Habitat for Humanity housing
- They may accept donations if no purchase
Schedule Curbside Mattress Pickup with LA Sanitation
Got an old mattress taking up space? LA Sanitation offers free scheduled curbside mattress removal for city residents up to four times per year. Simply call 1-800-773-2489 or go online to request a pickup date.
On your selected day, leave the mattress out by 6am with no bedding or materials that may fall off during loading. Make sure it’s easily accessible – not blocked by vehicles or other objects. You can dispose of up to two mattress sets per pickup day.
Mattresses in good condition can also be donated to local charities and shelters. Deflate air mattresses completely and fold up before placing curbside. And always ensure mattresses are dry – wet items may be rejected as too heavy to lift.
Tips for LA Mattress Disposal
- Get free curbside pickup 4x per year
- Remove bedding before 6am pickup
- Donate usable mattresses if possible
- Let air mattresses fully deflate first
[Article continues with more sections on mattress and furniture disposal tips for LA residents]